Top 5 expectations of a Java developer in 2008

Let me start by wishing everyone a happy new year ! I hope 2008 is prosperous and peaceful for all of you. For many of you who still take pride in being a Java developer, I also put down a list of top 5 expectations from the year that has just started. It may be presumptuous on my part to create a single list of top 5 expectations for the eclectic world of Java developers but none the less I will do it! Some of you will agree, some of you will vehemently disagree and the rest will remain silent. In all the cases though I hope to provoke you to think about what you want and desire from the language and platform that you are so intently connected with.

So let’s get started -

1. JavaFx transforms from hype to reality
In 2007 starting with JavaOne, we all heard that the messiah has arrived in the form of JavaFX. Unfortunately, the entire promise is taking too long to manifest into a real option. Hope 2008 either converts it into a real, simple and viable option, so that Java developers don’t necessarily need to take refuse in the alternative rich interface technologies, or just brings all the hype to an end.

2. Glassfish enters the application server choice bundle.
Glassfish is a fantastic open source Java application server and platform. It was the first one to be compliant with the Java EE 5 standards. It has implemented almost everything that the JCP is churning out. It works and it is powerful. However, it still remains an unknown application server in the enterprise. Most managers have never heard of it, many Java developers have never bothered to download it and many others think its not a serious option, even without checking it out. Hopefully developers start taking its advantage in 2008.

3. Lightweight/Heavyweight discussion is put to rest
With Java EE adopting many of the advantages of frameworks, tools and libraries that figured out how to do things in a simple and straightforward manner, the divide between the so called traditional heavyweight Java and its lightweight alternatives is blurring. However, many of the staunch believers and promoters of the lightweight frameworks are not letting the debate rest to peace. May these folks find something more useful and new to champion ! Also, those who switched sides altogether in favor of those dynamic options, beyond Java, that was supposed to cleanse them of all evil may return once they find that their simple framework fails to deliver simple database manipulations or relies on your same old ways to integrate with other things in the enterprise.

4. Google likes Java, somebody convince Apple too :)
The iPhone is popular and many iPhone applications are being built. So far Java is poison for Apple. Hopefully things change this year. Hopefully Java developers gain from this surge! Google has already helped the world of Java developers with its numerous open Java APIs and services. Its has also reinforced that when the winner adopts you, you flourish and proposer! So its not as much about being with Apple the company but its about being in the winner’s camp.

5. Unify some and sunset a few others
Plurality in the world of Java provides ample choice to do even the most mundane of tasks but it often leaves Java developers confused in the middle of this abundance. Java developers for a few years now spend a considerable amount of time contrasting and comparing the numerous commercial and open source frameworks, tools and libraries to get their job done. Hopefully, 2008 sees some of these projects merging and some others just waning into obscurity. Hopefully the feudal lords realize that although dictatorship is detrimental, a unified nation state has its benefits.

2008年Java开发者最迫切的五个期望

JavaFx不再只是空谈

       在2007年的JavaOne上，我们听到了一个救世主——JavaFx，不幸的是，当初的所有许诺却没有成为现实。希望2008它能成为一个真正的、简单的、可用选择，从而Java开发者不必在富交互技术领域无“本宗”技术可选。

Glassfish成为应用服务器的选择

       Glassfish是一款非常好的开源应用服务器和平台，也是第一个遵从Java EE 5标准的，它强大而有效。然而在企业端它还不被熟知，许多企业主管甚至从未听说它。即使Java开发者，很多也从未下载使用过，甚至部分人还没有用就在印象中觉得它不够正规。希望2008年开发者能够有效利用它。

重量级/轻量级(Lightweight/Heavyweight)之争当停止

       由于Java EE正不断吸取各种框架、工具、库等的优点，开发方法变得更加直接和简单，所以传统的所谓的重量级Java和轻量级之间的区别也越来越模糊。然而此间关于重量级和轻量级的争论仍未停止。

Google青睐Java，希望Apple也能

       iPhone非常风靡而且许多iPhone应用正在开发，然而迄今Java仍然是iPhone的毒药，希望08年这一局面可以改观。Google已经通过它众多的Java API和服务帮助了全世界的Java开发者，这也再一次证明，强者用之则发扬广大。所以希望包括Apple在内的更多强者可以用Java。

弃糟粕、大统一

       凭借Java的枝繁叶茂，再复杂的任务Java都可以提供很好的解决，然而它也因为自身分支和技术的太过丰富而使开发者迷乱。Java开发者花费了几年时间去弄清楚一大堆商业和开源框架、工具、库……希望在2008年，其中的一些可以被废弃。虽然专政（指Java统一）是有害的，但一个统一的领土有更多的优势。